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Engle memorial service set for Tuesday

A memorial service to honor the life of Dr. Richard Engle is set for 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 18 at Heritage Baptist Church in Clarks Summit, PA.

Dr. Engle, who died March 9, served on the faculty of BBC&S for 35 years, retiring as a Professor of Old Testament Literature, Language, and Exegesis in 2006. He was widely respected by colleagues and served as a teacher, mentor, and friend to generations of students. He was also a faithful member and teacher at Heritage Baptist Church.

"Dr. Engle is one of the chief reasons why I persevered in Greek," said Dr. Rod Decker, a Professor of Greek and New Testament at BBS since 1996. "He came to the classroom after 10 years of pastoral ministry. In his theology and Bible classes, I saw a blend of the biblical languages, theology, and ministry."

"He later became a Hebrew professor at BBS, but in his undergraduate classes he convinced me that if I was serious about Scripture, I had to be serious about the biblical languages; I could not get by with lip service to the original text. He not only taught it, he modeled it. Dick's example guided my attempt at a similar integration for the dozen years I spent in the pastorate and is the vision that I now try to communicate to my students who aspire to pastoral ministry."

Born Dec. 14, 1933, in Port Crane, N.Y., Dr. Engle graduated from North High School in Binghamton, N.Y. In 1958, he earned a Th.B. at Baptist Bible Seminary, then in Johnson City, N.Y. He also earned degrees at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, TX, and earned his Th.D. at Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, IN. He was ordained to the ministry by Fundamental Baptist Church, Indiana, PA, in 1965.

"Dr. Engle invested his life and learning in students at BBC&S, infusing in them a desire to honor God by careful biblical scholarship," said BBC&S President Jim Jeffery. "It was my joy to have been one of his students during my years at BBC. Since graduating, I have always called him 'Prof' because of his impact on my study of the Old Testament."

"He continued to be a resource to former students in recommending commentaries and the best in biblical scholarship. His faithful life as a godly man has left a lasting impression on his family, students, fellow faculty members and church members. He is now enjoying the 'heaven side' worship of the God He served so well."

The memorial service in celebration of his life on March 18 will be preceded by visitation for friends, which will begin at 2 p.m. Heritage Baptist Church is located across the street from Baptist Bible Seminary at 415 Venard Road in Clarks Summit.